7mm STW Brotherhood - For those who shoot the 7mm Shooting Times Westerner

[ButterBean]

Sammy, I forget the exact measure, but I'm sure it was at the first groove in the top of the bullet. They like to jump, and can't be seated like a lead core bullet. My rifles shot that bullet like a 22.250 on steroids. My velocity was 3460, chronographed. I think I was at 3.620, so you are there, or abouts. I was shooting RL25, at 81 grains, 215GMM, WINCHESTER brass. IIt used to be good years ago, now it's junk.
Some of the secret was to back off your resizer, and adjust the bump, and sorta set it up to headspace on the shoulder, or at least let it do some of the support. Sometimes hsve to make small changes, when you find it, it will give you goosebumps. My chamber was very tight also. Bought a PTG reamer, and rechambered a stainless fluted seven mag barrel. THAT thing would shoot!
There's a pic back in the archives here somewhere!
My pal, Butterbean remembers it! Yours will come around!

I remember it ShoNuff and you are correct on the jump, first groove on the top of the bullet or a minimum of . 050 jump, the Barnes needs to build a little speed before they hit the lands and the STW loves bullet jump as rule anyway and as 7 said smoke your shoulder if you don't have gage and set your die until you see a faint ring and that will be an .002 bump roughly

 

[SammySTW]

Sammy, I forget the exact measure, but I'm sure it was at the first groove in the top of the bullet. They like to jump, and can't be seated like a lead core bullet. My rifles shot that bullet like a 22.250 on steroids. My velocity was 3460, chronographed. I think I was at 3.620, so you are there, or abouts. I was shooting RL25, at 81 grains, 215GMM, WINCHESTER brass. IIt used to be good years ago, now it's junk.
Some of the secret was to back off your resizer, and adjust the bump, and sorta set it up to headspace on the shoulder, or at least let it do some of the support. Sometimes hsve to make small changes, when you find it, it will give you goosebumps. My chamber was very tight also. Bought a PTG reamer, and rechambered a stainless fluted seven mag barrel. THAT thing would shoot!
There's a pic back in the archives here somewhere!
My pal, Butterbean remembers it! Yours will come around!

Thanks, I'll try that. I have not tried the LRX since I had a new barrel installed. When I tried it before I just loaded it to max mag length with the factory mag box. Now I have the Wyatt's mag box but probably won't need the extra length anyways unless I go back to the Bergers.
I tested the 143 Hammers with a .020" and a .035" jump and they shot ok but not as good as they need to. I need to try them and the LRX with more jump next time I get a chance to go to the range. I had the Hammers a little over 3400 fps with RL 26.
I will have to load some LRX and Hammers to compare their performance on deer

 

[ButterBean]

Before I put it in the classifieds Does anyone here need Brass, I have 20 ea New Winchester, 20 ea New Winchester Nickel, 20 ea Winchester fired 3X and 19 Rem fired 5X, I would like to sell the whole lot for $55 Shipped CONUS

 

[Unertl Eyebrow]

Looking at the NF SHV 5-20x56 to put on the STW. It has 80 MOA of elevation. Is that is enough adjustment if I use 20 MOA bases. Will it go low enough to zero at 200 yards? Someone on another thread said it's not much adjustment. My chart says 41 MOA drop at 2,000 yards. I don't think I ever need to consider going beyond that.

 

[7stw]

Somebody ought grab that brass from Bean, its the good stuff!

 

[dougduey]

I bought a box of the 143 Hammers to try out, I've only made 2 trips to the range with them so far and still need to play with the seating depth. How do you think they compare to the LRX? I also have a box of those but haven't really played with them.

I shoot both the 143 gr and 177 gr Hammer Hunters. I set both to my max mag length (3.700") and worked from there. They both shoot a tiny ragged hole. I'm using RL26 and getting a little over 3500 fps with the 143 and a little under 3100 fps with the 177.

 

[SammySTW]

I shoot both the 143 gr and 177 gr Hammer Hunters. I set both to my max mag length (3.700") and worked from there. They both shoot a tiny ragged hole. I'm using RL26 and getting a little over 3500 fps with the 143 and a little under 3100 fps with the 177.

Dang that's fast! I did a ladder test with RL 26 from 75.0 to 80.0 gr in 0.5 gr steps and the fastest I got was 3472 at 79.5 gr. I could probably have tried a little over 80 gr but I didn't have any at the range with me. Started to get ejector marks at 79 gr. I seemed to have a velocity node between 78.5 and 79gr around 3420 fps. I haven't had another chance to shoot it since then. I don't remember my OAL there but it was somewhere around 3.750"

 

[SammySTW]

Looking at the NF SHV 5-20x56 to put on the STW. It has 80 MOA of elevation. Is that is enough adjustment if I use 20 MOA bases. Will it go low enough to zero at 200 yards? Someone on another thread said it's not much adjustment. My chart says 41 MOA drop at 2,000 yards. I don't think I ever need to consider going beyond that.

How far are you planning on shooting with it? The SHV is a fine scope and I would think 80 MOA of elevation should be sufficient unless you are planning to use this gun for super long range. I have 20 MOA bases on 3 of my rifles and haven't had an issue zeroing them at 200 or 100 yards with Leupold, Swarovski, and Nightforce scopes.

 

[dougduey]

Dang that's fast! I did a ladder test with RL 26 from 75.0 to 80.0 gr in 0.5 gr steps and the fastest I got was 3472 at 79.5 gr. I could probably have tried a little over 80 gr but I didn't have any at the range with me. Started to get ejector marks at 79 gr. I seemed to have a velocity node between 78.5 and 79gr around 3420 fps. I haven't had another chance to shoot it since then. I don't remember my OAL there but it was somewhere around 3.750"

With new brass, I got your exact fps (3472 with an ES of 3), and with fire formed brass I think it was 3530-ish..........I'll have to look at my notes. I had some pictures in my phone that showed a target and my "one hole" load using the 143 gr was 82.3 gr, while with the 177 gr bullet it was 73.9 gr of RL26

 

[SammySTW]

With new brass, I got your exact fps (3472 with an ES of 3), and with fire formed brass I think it was 3530-ish..........I'll have to look at my notes. I had some pictures in my phone that showed a target and my "one hole" load using the 143 gr was 82.3 gr, while with the 177 gr bullet it was 73.9 gr of RL26

I just looked back at mine and I started the 143 at .020 off the lands, OAL was 3.740", pretty sure its virgin brass too. Next time I get a chance I will try it at 3.680, 3.695, and 3.710. Might also try another ladder test from 78 to 82

 

[Unertl Eyebrow]

Thanks Sammy. Thats exactly what I was after. Most of our shots on deer come at 500-800 yards anyhow. But we have a few hills that can double that. We are hunting mountains with mature timber, getting the animal in the scope on a dark day or any day is the hardest part. Especially if he is moving around. The 56 mm NF should help. We don't need all the bells and whistles of the higher cost Nightforce scopes. But If I was going to run out of clicks I would go for a different model scope.
Thanks

 

[dougduey]

I just looked back at mine and I started the 143 at .020 off the lands, OAL was 3.740", pretty sure its virgin brass too. Next time I get a chance I will try it at 3.680, 3.695, and 3.710. Might also try another ladder test from 78 to 82

Just to let you know, I never hit pressure with the 143. I pushed it to almost 3600 fps, but it was so accurate at the lower charge, I didn't bother to keep going.

 

[wildcat455]

If I were I interested in picking up a new 7mm STW, Is there a manufacturer who still chambers it?

 

[SammySTW]

Thanks Sammy. Thats exactly what I was after. Most of our shots on deer come at 500-800 yards anyhow. But we have a few hills that can double that. We are hunting mountains with mature timber, getting the animal in the scope on a dark day or any day is the hardest part. Especially if he is moving around. The 56 mm NF should help. We don't need all the bells and whistles of the higher cost Nightforce scopes. But If I was going to run out of clicks I would go for a different model scope.
Thanks

I've never tested any of mine to see how much elevation I have left to go up with it mounted on a 20 MOA rail. Maybe when I get home tonight I will turn one as far as it will go just to see how much is still available. My Nightforce NXS is supposed to have 100 MOA of elevation, and my Leupold VX6HD is supposed to have 75 MOA of elevation. As long as it's got half of that still available to use, it should be fine for any hunting with the STW